A new poll shows a majority of adults
in Virginia support gay marriage.
According to a The
Washington Post poll of 1,000 adults released Wednesday, 56
percent of Virginians favor marriage equality, while 34 percent
remain opposed. Thirty-eight percent of supporters felt “strongly”
about the issue versus 28 percent of opponents.
Majorities of Democrats (75%) and
independents (55%) are in support. But Republicans oppose such
unions by a 46-43 margin.
Young people, those under 30,
overwhelmingly support marriage equality by nearly 3-1. Majority
support is also found in all other age groups except those over 65,
where 53 percent remain opposed.
Ninety-one percent of atheists support
such unions, with only 5 percent “strongly” opposed. Support is
also found among white non-evangelical Protestants and white Roman
Catholics, 61 and 65 percent respectively. On the other hand, 68
percent of white evangelical Protestants remain opposed.
The highest concentration of supporters
is found in the suburbs of the District of Columbia, where a marriage
equality law was adopted in 2009.
In 2006, Virginia voters overwhelmingly (57-43%)
approved a constitutional amendment which prohibits the state from
recognizing any union other than a heterosexual marriage.